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Signature ingredients
Coco-glucoside body wash OEM/ODM manufacturing
Coco-Glucoside Body Wash · Signature Ingredients · OEM/ODM
Coco-glucoside is a nonionic surfactant from the alkyl glucoside family, made by condensing fatty alcohol from coconut oil with glucose (Fiume et al., 2013). The accurate description is "coconut-derived" or "plant-derived" — coco-glucoside itself is a synthesized product, not an extract of the coconut. In a 2026 survey of products sold online in the Netherlands, 26 of 50 body washes contained coco-glucoside, so it is a familiar choice for "sulfate-free" body wash lines. Three things need to be said plainly. The commercial raw material is a solution of about 50% active and is alkaline, so the formula has to be converted to active content and the pH adjusted after mixing. Irritation data specific to coco-glucoside are a few small tests, and the CIR Expert Panel concluded that alkyl glucosides are safe "when formulated to be nonirritating" — a conditional conclusion. The alkyl glucoside group was named "Allergen of the Year" 2017, and there is no commercial patch test allergen for coco-glucoside, so allergy to it is easily missed. This page therefore focuses on what is specific to coco-glucoside as the primary surfactant for whole-body skin; general body wash principles are on a separate page. Butter-C offers turnkey OEM/ODM manufacturing, from formula development and testing to labeled finished goods and the notification dossier.
Formula base
Coco-glucoside as the primary surfactant, with its partners
All surfactant levels are calculated as % active from the COA, not % raw material. Below are the five ingredient groups of a body wash built around coco-glucoside.
Coco-Glucoside: primary surfactant
According to CIR, the commercial raw material is a viscous, cloudy aqueous solution (some grades pale yellow) with 51–53% or at least 50% active; the fatty alcohol part is a mix of chain lengths (one commercial sample was C8–C16 — Slavova et al., 2025). The CIR survey (United States, 2011, as active) records maximum concentrations of 0.2–15% in rinse-off products — market levels, not recommendations. Coco-glucoside is not named in ASEAN Annexes II, III, VI or VII.
Co-surfactants
Cocamidopropyl Betaine boosts foam and helps viscosity (require a COA for amidoamine and DMAPA impurities). Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate gives a fine, creamy foam but is sensitive to low pH. On artificial skin (in vitro), combining coco-glucoside with ionic surfactants cleaned effectively at a lower total concentration (Slavova et al., 2025); the actual ratio is set on samples.
Thickening
Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose or PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate (ethoxylated — COA for 1,4-dioxane). In one published sulfate-free system, adding alkyl polyglucoside lowered viscosity (Yorke et al., 2021; four of six authors from industry), so plan on polymers, with salt only as support and its curve mapped on the actual system.
Conditioning for after-shower feel
Glycerin, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate or a little sunflower seed oil for the opaque version. This group gives a soft feel after showering; "no tight feeling" is claimed only with sensory testing on the finished product.
Preservation, chelation, pH adjustment
Sodium Benzoate (rinse-off maximum 2.5% as benzoic acid, Annex VI Ref 1) and Potassium Sorbate (0.6% as sorbic acid, Ref 4) need an acidic pH; or Phenoxyethanol (maximum 1.0%, Ref 29) with Ethylhexylglycerin. Disodium EDTA or Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate chelates metal ions; Citric Acid adjusts pH after mixing. The preservative system is confirmed by a challenge test under ISO 11930.
Key technical points
Four things specific to coco-glucoside as the primary surfactant
These are the points where a coco-glucoside body wash differs from a sulfate or amino acid body wash; each is settled with raw material documents or tests on samples.
Dose by active content
The raw material is about 50% active, so 10% raw material corresponds to only about 5% active. The formula and Product Information File record both % raw material and % active; each batch is weighed according to the % active on that lot's COA.
Alkaline raw material — adjust pH after mixing
In one study, diluted solutions of a commercial coco-glucoside raw material had a pH of 6.7–10.8 before adjustment (natural pH about 10.5–10.8); the authors attribute the high pH of glucosides mainly to bleaching during manufacture, and their model formulas were adjusted with citric acid (Slavova et al., 2025). The finished pH is set according to the chosen preservative system (benzoate and sorbate need an acidic pH) and the stability of any amino acid surfactant, then tracked across stability time points.
Mildness: limited evidence, test on the finished product
Specific data compiled by CIR: 2% active under occlusion for 24 hours in 20 people and 1% in a soap chamber test in 22 people were both slightly irritating (a study by authors from a raw material supplier); a repeated insult patch test at 1% active in 213 people showed no irritation or sensitization (unpublished data); in vitro eye testing was mildly irritating at 3%. CIR also notes that alkyl glucosides may increase skin penetration of other ingredients. A body wash is used daily over a large area, so tolerance is measured on the finished product itself.
Allergy is easily missed — label clearly
Only decyl, lauryl and cetearyl glucoside are available as commercial patch test allergens; about half of people allergic to decyl glucoside also react to lauryl and coco-glucoside (the same 2026 Dutch survey). In North America, positivity to decyl and coco glucoside among patch-tested patients rose in 2023–2024 compared with 2021–2022 (Reeder et al., 2026); in the UK, 29 of 2,796 patients (1.04%) reacted to at least one glucoside, 79.3% of them to several (Bhoyrul et al., 2019). These are rates among patients referred for patch testing, not among users in general. The INCI "Coco-Glucoside" is written in full so that people who know they are allergic can recognize it.
Three formulation directions
Three types of coco-glucoside body wash
Clear sulfate-free glucoside – betaine shower gel
Coco-glucoside as the primary surfactant, Cocamidopropyl Betaine to boost foam, Xanthan Gum or Hydroxyethylcellulose to thicken; "sulfate-free" can be stated as an ingredient description. Clarity is the main specification, including in the cold — the raw material is cloudy and some grades are pale yellow, so color is set by the COA.
Creamy opaque glucoside – amino acid body wash
Coco-glucoside with Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, plus PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate or sunflower seed oil and Glycol Distearate for opacity; creamy foam and a softer feel. Oil reduces foam and the system separates easily, so stability testing must be thorough (formulation experience); glutamate is sensitive to low pH.
Mainstream body wash with coco-glucoside as a secondary surfactant
Sodium Laureth Sulfate – betaine as the base, coco-glucoside as a secondary surfactant; easy to thicken with salt and cost-effective. It cannot be called "sulfate-free", and with coco-glucoside only a secondary surfactant, naming the product after it should be reconsidered.
Packaging is designed together with the formula
Pump bottles of 500 ml–1 liter, flip-top bottles, refill pouches. Polymer-thickened glucoside systems often flow differently from sulfate – salt systems — choose the pump for the agreed viscosity; choose clear bottles only once the system has passed low-temperature testing.
Parameters we monitor
What our R&D lab measures on every sample
These are the parameters Butter-C monitors during formula development and scale-up. Specific limits are agreed with you on the approved sample and then written into the product's in-house specification.
- Coco-glucoside raw material COA
- % active, pH, free fatty alcohol, color and microbiology for every lot; batch weights converted by actual % active.
- pH
- Measured neat or as a 10% solution at 25°C after adjustment; pH drift tracked across stability time points, because preservative efficacy depends on pH.
- Viscosity
- Rotational viscometer at 25°C, with spindle and speed recorded; adjusted after the fragrance is fixed and rechecked after aging.
- Foam height & stability
- Ross–Miles method or a fixed in-house procedure; the basis for "fine foam" on the label.
- Appearance & clarity
- Color, odor, clarity or even opacity at room and low temperature, against the reference sample.
- Stability
- Accelerated aging at 40°C, freeze–thaw cycling; haze, separation, viscosity and pH drift tracked.
- Microbiology & challenge test
- Tested at a GLP / ISO 17025-accredited laboratory; preservative efficacy (challenge) test under ISO 11930 at the actual finished pH.
- Skin & eye tolerance
- Tolerance testing on volunteers before claiming "gentle" or "no tight feeling"; eye irritation assessment on the finished product before claiming "less stinging to the eyes".
- Fragrance allergens
- Checked against the fragrance supplier's composition sheet. ASEAN Annex III leaves entries 67–92 blank; for EU export, allergens are named above 0.01% in rinse-off products.
Claims
Claims for a coco-glucoside body wash
A body wash is a rinse-off product; coco-glucoside is a surfactant, not a skin-conditioning ingredient. Evidence that "coco-glucoside makes a product gentle" is limited: a few small tests showed no to slight irritation at 1–2% active, and a survey of the 30 top-ranked sellers in each of four categories on an e-commerce site (120 products) found that 56.7% of shampoos labeled "hypoallergenic" contained alkyl glucosides, with coco-glucoside the most common alkyl glucoside across the survey (Ćirin et al., 2024). Butter-C reviews the wording on the label and in marketing materials when preparing the notification dossier.
Cleanses the whole body with a fine foam (foam claimed once measured on the finished product)
Instead of: skin detox, claims to act on bacteria, "99.9% clean".
Coconut-derived, plant-derived surfactant; sulfate-free (ingredient description)
"Sulfate-free" only when the formula has no alkyl sulfates or alkyl ether sulfates. Instead of: coconut extract, entirely natural, "chemical-free".
Gentle cleansing without a tight feeling (with results from testing on the finished product)
Instead of: non-irritating, does not cause allergies, hypoallergenic, for sensitive skin or children without testing.
Skin feels soft after showering (with sensory testing)
Due to the conditioning ingredients in the formula, not to coco-glucoside. Instead of: restores skin, regenerates skin.
Less stinging to the eyes (once eye irritation is assessed on the finished product)
Instead of: "does not sting the eyes" inferred from the ingredient name or from the word "nonionic".
Warnings and directions
Avoid contact with the eyes; if it gets in, rinse immediately with plenty of water; stop if the skin turns red, itchy or burns. People with a positive patch test to any alkyl glucoside (decyl, lauryl, coco-glucoside…) should not use it and should ask a dermatologist. Pregnant or breastfeeding women: not enough specific data, ask a doctor if concerned. The product is for adults; a children's body wash is a separate dossier. Instead of: safe for every skin type, for the whole family including babies.
Manufacturing specifications
Available capabilities
- Formats
- Clear gel or creamy opaque wash; coco-glucoside as the primary or secondary surfactant.
- Pack types
- Pump bottles, flip-top bottles, refill pouches. Volume agreed when selecting packaging.
- Minimum order quantity
- Agreed per order, depending on the surfactant system, fragrance and pack type.
- Testing
- Tested at a GLP / ISO 17025-accredited laboratory, with a certificate of analysis supplied with every batch.
- Documentation
- Product Information File (PIF) and notification dossier prepared by Butter-C, with surfactant raw material COAs stating % active.
- Packaging
- Label design with full INCI and an eye-contact warning; printing and packing run in parallel with formulation.
Suggested product concept
Sulfate-free, fragrance-free coco-glucoside shower gel
A concept to help you picture the product, not a ready-made product for sale. The actual formula is built around your brand positioning and price range.
Coco-glucoside – betaine system
Coco-Glucoside as the primary surfactant, Cocamidopropyl Betaine to boost foam; total % active set on foam and tolerance test samples; "sulfate-free" can be stated.
Polymer thickening, citric acid pH adjustment
Xanthan Gum or Hydroxyethylcellulose builds pump-bottle viscosity; pH is adjusted after mixing, within the working range of the benzoate – sorbate preservative system.
Glycerin, guar polymer
Conditioning for a soft after-shower feel; "no tight feeling" is claimed only with sensory testing on volunteers.
500 ml pump bottle, fragrance-free, full INCI on the label
Fragrance-free removes one source of allergens from the ingredient list; the label carries an eye-contact warning and the full INCI "Coco-Glucoside".
Customization options
What you can specify
The same product type can target very different customers. Tell us your requirements in the areas below and our pharmacists will build the formula accordingly.
Secondary surfactant
Betaine, glutamate or sulfate — this sets foam character, viscosity, cost and whether "sulfate-free" can be stated.
Texture
Clear gel or creamy opaque wash with conditioning oil; tied to the thickening system and pack.
Glucoside-free version
For users who know they are allergic to alkyl glucosides: switch to an amino acid or isethionate system — the product then no longer carries the coco-glucoside name; decyl or lauryl glucoside is not a substitute because co-reactions are common.
Fragrance
Fragrance-free or lightly fragranced; fragrance changes clarity and viscosity, so it must be retested, and it is also a source of contact allergy.
User group
Normal skin, dry skin, active people; a "for sensitive skin" positioning needs separate tolerance testing on the finished product.
Product set
Paired with a lauryl glucoside shampoo or a decyl glucoside facial cleanser; people allergic to one glucoside usually have to avoid the whole set.
Further reading
Related knowledge
Coco-glucoside in cosmetics
Raw material pH, irritation data, concentrations and why coco-glucoside allergy is easily missed (in Vietnamese).
Body wash OEM/ODM manufacturing
Surfactant system, viscosity, fragrance and packaging of body washes in general; this page goes deeper into coco-glucoside.
Decyl glucoside facial cleanser OEM/ODM manufacturing
The same alkyl glucoside family applied to facial skin: eye irritation, penetration enhancement, labeling.
Lauryl glucoside shampoo OEM/ODM manufacturing
The C12 glucoside in a sulfate-free shampoo.
Skin reactions to cosmetics
How to recognize contact allergy and the role of patch testing (in Vietnamese).
Classification of foaming agents
The four surfactant groups and why "sulfate-free" does not automatically mean gentle (in Vietnamese).
How we work
From idea to finished batch
Eight steps and three milestones signed off by both sides: approved sample, notification number, finished batch. Step-by-step details →
Get started
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Send us your product direction and expected volume. Our team will get back to you during business hours (Vietnam time, GMT+7).
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